“Giving birth is the original archetypal Vision Quest that all other vision quests are based upon.
This quintessential transformative and memorable event is worthy of
our respect, honor and protection for every MotherBaby on this Earth.”
— Susan Bradford

Susan Bradford, LVN, CCE, CHT
Doula / Birth Ceremonialist

I am a holistic childbirth educator, birth ceremonialist and hypnotherapist.  Besides teaching holistic childbirth preparation, newborn care, and breastfeeding classes, I also offer pregnant mothers’ circles called “Waxing Moon Mamas” which are held in the way of traditional women’s circles. I facilitate Birth Blessings &  Baby Welcoming ceremonies, offer Private Birth Art sessions, one-on-one refresher classes and private consultations. I am also a Certified  Hypnotherapist offering support in all childbirth related issues.

Since 1990 I have offered my childbirth services in Marin County, California. Over the years I have offered care and services to women and their families spanning from prenatal to birth to postpartum. I was a Birth Doula and Post Partum Doula for 22 years, but I am now retired from that work. I estimate that I have supported over 300 births.

I began my passionate path into childbirth in the early 1970’s.  I became a LVN in 1976 working as a postpartum and newborn nursery nurse at Boston Lying-In Hospital. In 1977, I began midwifery training at the Holistic Childbirth Institute in San Francisco, while working as a Maternal and Infant Bonding Recovery Room Nurse at Kaiser San Francisco. After raising my daughter to an older age, I then continued my midwifery studies and training with Hearts and Hands and then apprenticing with Maria Iorillo, LM, CPM and in Jamaica with midwife Christina de Eno.

My first childbirth education training was the method of Dr Grantly Dick-Read, the “Grandfather of Natural Childbirth” a British obstetrician who first wrote Childbirth Without Fear in the 1944. Over the years I have continued taking other trainings, for example, with Pam England of Birthing From Within and with Whapio of The Matrona. I continue my studies, trainings and explorations in the childbirth field as I feel there is always so much more to learn.

And yet of all the things I have done in my life, I am most proud of being the mother of my beloved daughter Leah.

Leah Claire Bellerjeau
August 16, 1978 – February 13, 2022